In 2026, four to five new biomethane plants with a total capacity of about 20 million cubic meters of biomethane per year may start operating in Ukraine. This was announced by Heorhii Heletukha, Head of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine, reports ProAgro Group.
According to him, each of the new projects will be able to produce up to 5 million cubic meters of biomethane annually. At the same time, the development of the sector is restrained by the fact that biomethane exports from Ukraine began relatively recently, and potential investors are currently observing the first successful projects.
Heletukha noted that companies already exporting biomethane to the EU have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures. In particular, they must confirm the origin of biomethane at all stages — from injection into gas distribution networks and transportation through the gas transmission system to storage in underground gas facilities. After that, producers must prove compliance with EU requirements and criteria.
“More than six months ago, our producers submitted the relevant package of documents to the European Commission, and a week ago they received responses. Overall, the feedback is positive, but there are a number of clarifications that still need to be addressed. After that, we hope the first stage will be successfully completed,” he said.
The expert also emphasized that there is real demand for Ukrainian biomethane from the EU, and Ukraine has already adopted the necessary regulatory framework for the sector’s development. However, producers do not receive a so-called “green premium” — a state financial incentive to support renewable energy. As a result, instead of a potential price of €900 per 1,000 cubic meters, Ukrainian companies sell biomethane for €750–800 per 1,000 cubic meters, while production costs are around €650 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Several biomethane plants are already operating in Ukraine. These include Hals Agro in Chernihiv region and a Vitargo Group plant in Khmelnytskyi region with capacities of 3 million cubic meters per year each, UM Liquid Gas in Vinnytsia region (11 million cubic meters), as well as two MHP plants in Vinnytsia and Dnipropetrovsk regions with a combined capacity of 35 million cubic meters per year.
Another facility, operated by Teofipol Energy Company in Khmelnytskyi region, is expected to be launched soon. With a capacity of 56 million cubic meters per year, it will be connected directly to the gas transmission system. As a result, by the end of the year Ukraine’s total biomethane production capacity could increase from the current 52 million to 108 million cubic meters per year, with all volumes currently destined for export.
As previously reported, within industrial parks Ukraine is also developing facilities to process about 1 million tonnes of corn into bioethanol. To fully utilize these capacities, around 3 million tonnes of feedstock will be required annually.
Source: Delo.ua
